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| Rabbi David Stav |
People can quibble about the rules in any organization. There were plenty of rules in the organizations I was involved with over the years that I felt were unjust, unnecessary, or just plain stupid – with no inherent value. In some cases I thought a particular rule was even counterproductive to the goals of the institution. But I fully understand that organizations must have rules and have the right to determine what those rules are. Following them is an obvious requirement for membership. So I stayed with those institutions and and followed their rules even if I didn’t like some of them. I felt that the good outweighed the bad.
I bring this up in light of an article in Arutz Sheva last week where a prominent Rav broke the rules of the organization he is a member of. The group he belongs to has every right – and perhaps even a duty to expel him. If rules can so easily be broken then of what value are they?
The rabbi in question here is David Stav, a highly respected Religious Zionist member of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. He is also the founder and head of Tzohar, said to be a ‘kinder’ and gentler alternative to the Chief Rabbinate. The Chief Rabbinate has thus far seemed to tolerate its ‘competition’ and has even worked with them on some issues.
But now he has been threatened with expulsion. His ‘crime’ is that Tzohar wants to set up its own Kosher certification (Hechsher) organization. But the Israeli government has granted the sole right to issue Kosher certifications to the Chief Rabbinate.
One can agree or disagree, but it is certainly understandable that the Chief Rabbinate wants to keep its monopoly on Kashrus. But in their defense, there are a lot of unscrupulous to people out there that want to get into the Kashrus certification business. Which can be very lucrative. So on that level I tend to support the idea of retaining control.
The Chief Rabbinate has informed Rabbi Stav that he should cease and desist from this project under threat of expulsion. Rabbi Stav has said he has no intention of doing that.
I’m not sure why Rabbi Stav has embarked on this confrontational path. I have to wonder why he is even doing this? It isn’t as if there aren't a ton of other Kashrus organizations in Israel. The Rabbinate Hechsher is widespread and granted to many restaurants. It is so widespread that many Orthodox Jews don’t trust it. Charedim in particular do not eat from that it. They believe it is problematic for a variety of reasons.
I am not here to bash the Rabbinate Hechsher. My point here is that it is not universally trusted. This is important because there many Hechsher organizations in Israel. A few that are universally trusted; some that are less trusted than the Rabbinate; and everything in between. None of them are under the auspices of the Rabbinate. But then again, none of the rabbis involved with those Hechsher organizations are members.
So what’s the problem if Tzohar starts its own Kashrus organization? As far as the actual food establishments that they will be certifying, nothing. They will just be another of the many outside the Rabbinate that already exist. But in all of those cases, none of the rabbis involved are members of the Chief Rabbinate. Rabbi Stav is a member… and actually ran for Chief Rabbi in the last election for that post. He lost to Rabbi David Lau.
The question remains whether Rabbi Stav wants to keep his credentials as a member of the Chief Rabbinate. Why would he want to retain his position there after he has so badly been treated? He currently serves as the rabbi of the city of Shoham in Israel.This must mean something to him and to the residents of the city. The bottom line though is that if he wants to stay, he has to follow the rules and not start a Hechsher organization that will directly compete with the Chief Rabbinate. If he doesn’t, he will lose his position. I don't think that is a good outcome for anyone.